Business ties bind Putin to Berlusconi
The Russian president is as much chief executive of Russia Inc as he is a national leader, while for Italy’s prime minister-elect, politics is about doing business, writes Quentin Peel
Italian elections
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Billionaire businessman Silvio Berlusconi has returned to power for a third time after a snap election on April 13 gave his three-party coalition a clear majority and removed from parliament several small parties
Berlusconi brings long-time allies into cabinet
Silvio Berlusconi, billionaire entrepreneur and head of the centre-right People of Freedom coalition, will be sworn in as head of Italy’s 62nd post-war government, bringing with him long-time allies and a few new faces
Berlusconi hints at Alitalia deal
Union leaders warned of ‘painful’ job cuts
Rome approves emergency Alitalia loan
€300m move to prevent bankruptcy
Berlusconi backed on cash for Alitalia
Government lends more money to carrier
Berlusconi has clear parliamentary majority
Final results show majority in both houses
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View from Europe
Italy’s economy is growing at only half the rate of the rest of the eurozone this year and many Italians have little faith that politicians of either the left or right can deliver badly needed reforms. The FT’s Milan correspondent, Adrian Michaels, asks Mario Monti, former EU commissioner, and top Italian business leaders and policy makers about the country’s economic prospects
Columnist
The key players
Political profiles
The FT profiles the political heavyweights fighting the election from billionaire Silvio Berlusconi and Walter Veltroni a former communist to the leaders of the smaller parties vying to become king-makers
Analysis
In with the old? New party names offer few fresh choices for Italy
As the country’s economy sags, veteran politicians are vying to present themselves to a jaded electorate as agents of vigorous reform
Comment
Italy’s bitterness could blight Berlusconi
The new prime minister comes to power riding a wave of frustration and more beholden to the Lega Nord than ever before, says Erik Jones
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